Toll Brothers Take Flak (For those considering buying a home)

www.countypressonline.com ^ | 06/11/2003 | By Matt Hasson

[Tribune7]

In a related matter, the supervisors delayed discussion of a "punch list" of Concord Chase residents' complaints about "poor workmanship" such as poor insulation, leaks and stormwater runoff. Many Concord Chase residents want Toll's license revoked until all the problems are fixed.

More than 40 residents of Concord Chase, or about 40 percent, levied complaints against Toll Brothers for poor workmanship.

[Tribune7]

Toll Bros. is a huge developer in Suburban Philly and it has been the subject of complaints. Concord is in Delaware County, Pa.

The paragraphs above are from the end of the story.

[Tribune7]

ping

[Tribune7]

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[MattinNJ]

I represent a townhouse association that is suing Toll Brothers. They have incredible drainage and water runoff problems.

[BIGZ]

Philly? Is this not where the Mayor's brother was all set to get the contract at the Air-port?

Sounds like the building inspectors were not on the job.

This is the result of dealing with the least common denominator.

[Physicist]

This is why I shun new construction. My house is more than 75 years old, and I have no doubt that, barring a disaster, it will outlast most of what's being built today.

[William Terrell]

Why not post the whole article?

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Toll plans to build 30 homes on the Lowry Tract, which is behind a portion of the Riviera Project. The development would have access to Mattson Road.

The plan was revised twice since last year and supervisors delayed voting on it twice since April, said Supervisors' Chairman Dominic Anthony Pileggi.

Conditions of approval include changes to a cul-de-sac, the construction of a driveway for a neighbor, open space and walking trail, the replacement of 135 trees, and offsite improvements to Mattson and Concord roads.

Toll Brothers attorney Marc Kaplan asked for more time to consider the road changes. He cited some residents' concern that wider roads would cause more speeding by motorists.

Toll got waivers of the township subdivision ordinance to disturb steep slopes and install a cul-de-sac more than 700 feet long.

The open space will be restricted to motorbikes and ATVs, said Kaplan.

Taking A 'Toll'

In a related matter, the supervisors delayed discussion of a "punch list" of Concord Chase residents' complaints about "poor workmanship" such as poor insulation, leaks and stormwater runoff. Many Concord Chase residents want Toll's license revoked until all the problems are fixed.

More than 40 residents of Concord Chase, or about 40 percent, levied complaints against Toll Brothers for poor workmanship, according to an anonymous source. The source asserted that Toll removed trees and a vegetation buffer zone between Garnet Valley Woods and Newlin Mill Park on Cheyney Road. The removal of the buffer created excess water runoff on Cheyney Road, resulting in a dangerous patch of ice, the residents said.

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[abner]

Barry can always tell a Toll Brothers development when he flies over in the balloon. The 1/2 million dollar new homes are usually missing shingles..

[End Times Sentinel]

Philly? Is this not where the Mayor's brother was all set to get the contract at the Air-port?

Sounds like the building inspectors were not on the job.

This is the result of dealing with the least common denominator.

Actually, these homes are in Concord, Delaware County.  The new homes in Philadelphia are beautiful, why the city spent an average of $286,000 on new projects with central A/C, pre wired cable T.V., internet connections, washer/dryer, dish washer and off street parking.  All for people on public assistance.

 

I kinda wish I had some of those amenities in my home, but fair is fair- the people who live in the projects are home all day watching T.V. while I'm at work, so they'll have more opportunity to enjoy it than me.  (From each according to his ability to each according to his ability, doncha know?)

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[LetsRok]

I own a Toll Brothers home here in Northern Va. They are rated very highly.

[Temple Owl]

I have heard all kinds of horror stories about the new "McMansions" being built. My house is 80 years old and was built by real craftsmen. I would never buy a tract house.

[ffusco]

Mine too, My Victorian in Houston is 90 years old and has weathered many floods and storms. To paraphrase Garp: It's been pre-disastered!

[ffusco]

My 90 y.o. frame on pier constructed house is all tongue and groove, walls, floors and ceilings.

[Tribune7]

Philly?

No, suburban Philly. Concord has a pop of about 12,000. The building inspector may be overworked and out of his weight class but corruption is unlikely a factor.

[Tribune7]

The 1/2 million dollar new homes are usually missing shingles.

LOL

[abner]

We live near lots of Toll Bros. homes. We get lots of customers in here that move into the area. We joke because they spend gads of cash on houses on a piece of land the size of a postage stamp that they can't afford to furnish and the walls can be cut through with a utility knife.

Not that our house is any better(that is a nightmare all by itself), but it is on 5 acres and I don't have to look at neighbors.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I guess I haven't ever read anything before about the Toll Brothers Homes being so bad - I thought they had a good reputation.

It is obvious that the older homes were built well - some are 200 or 300 years old and still standing, but we got lucky with our builder - so far we have had no problems with our home (keeping fingers crossed).....of course it is NOT a McMansion either.......lol

[SamAdams76]

When my wife and I were buying our current house, we looked at some new developments. I thought then that the contruction was kind of cheesy and on the cheap side. As well, those new "cookie-cutter developments" have trees completely stripped and it takes a generation to get some decent shade trees and shrubbery and thus a little separation (from your neighbors).

We decided on a older home that was built in the early 1960s. This is a solid house built to last and we knew as soon as we saw it that it was the house we wanted. Many people I talk to say that older houses are generally better built than many homes of today.

But what I really like about my house is the landscaping. I've got a full acre and there are thick woods separating me and my neighbors. Lots of shade trees in the yard and a genuine New England stone fence running along one side. Don't know why these developers insist on stripping the land bare when building a housing complex.

[Think free or die]

Our house is of the same era. When we were looking for a larger home, we also looked at new houses. They were very expensive, built to the edges of the envelope, and seemed poorly constructed. We ended up buying the house my in-laws built in 1963.

While our house lacks the charm of a Victorian or older house, it is sturdily built. When two of our canopy trees (100+ foot tulip poplars) fell on the attached garage a couple of years ago, they damaged the roof, but stopped at the top of the wall. Had it been a new house, there wouldn't have been 100 foot trees to start with. Had there been such trees, they would have crushed the walls and probably the garage floor!

In our neck of the woods, it's more Cutler Homes than Toll Brothers. Neither one has the quality we've seen with houses from the 60's and earlier. Our tiling contractor told us some stories recently about the ways in which these firms cut corners in bathroom construction. Pretty sad. I guess many people no longer have the hands-on skills to detect poor construction. I don't either, but fortunately, my husband does.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Would you please add me to your Philadelphia ping list? Thanks.